Where’s Peter Pan on the Avenue Joffre?

I’ve posted before about the Peter Pan Shop on Avenue Joffre (now Huai Hai Road) in Frenchtown that remained for many decades in so many young Shanghailanders minds as the most wonderful toy shop in Shanghai. It was run by two lovely White Russian Jewish ladies. But I’ve posted again as someone told me a nice anecdote about the shop the other day…

Chinese sales people from toy companies, publishers and curio dealers would turn up at the store looking to sell their wares into the store….they would invariably ask to speak to Mr Pan! JM Barrie’s mischievous little boy who never ages but can fly was rather unknown to them sadly!

Beijing RAS – The Badlands – a book launch with Paul French – Beijing Bookworm 13/4/13

An event I’m doing for the newly found (and congratulations and welcome) Beijing Royal Asiatic Society at the Beijing Bookworm on Saturday night, should you happen to be in the capital….

Saturday, April 13 7:30pm
The Badlands – a book launch with Paul French and RAS Beijing

40/50rmb

The Badlands, a warren of narrow hutongs in the eastern district of pre-communist Peking, had its heyday in the 1930s. Home to the city’s drifters, misfits and the odd bohemian, it was a place of opium dens, divebars, brothels, flophouses and cabarets, and was infamous for its ability to satisfy every human desire from the exotically entertaining to the criminally depraved. Paul French’s latest The Badlands – is a series of vignettes of eight non-Chinese residents of the precinct – White Russians, Americans and Europeans. Join us as French brings the Badlands vividly back to life, providing a short but potent account of a place and a way of life until now largely forgotten, but here rendered unforgettable.

Small God, Big City – Earth God Shrines in Urban Hong Kong

Michael Wolf, of the excellent Hong Kong Corner Houses book, has just published a book of earth god shrines in Hong Kong…

Following the success of Hong Kong Corner Houses (2011), German photographer Michael Wolf continues with his collaboration with Hong Kong University Press to produce Small God, Big City. Michael again uses his creative eye to draw attention to overlooked objects in the visually rich urban environment of Hong Kong. This time, the object is the Earth God shrine, found commonly by the doorways of shops and homes throughout Hong Kong.

Through his visually stimulating and thought- provoking photographs, Michael challenges our sensitivity to seemingly familiar everyday things. An interpretative text for the photographs is authored by two familiar names: Lee Ho Yin and Lynne DiStefano, who are well-known academics and practitioners of heritage conservation in Hong Kong. The text leads readers to a better understanding of the topic and the meaning behind Michael’s photographs of Earth God shrines in urban Hong Kong. The topic of this book is timely, given the vulnerability of traditional beliefs and practices in an increasingly urbanised Hong Kong. It is hoped that Small God, Big City will provoke deeper thoughts on who we are and what we believe in, in this modern world.

To Japan, China & Around the World – NYK’s 1926 Travel Brochure

A travel brochure issued in 1926 by Japan’s NYK shipping line to Japan, China and elsewhere in Asia. The original features a large colour map of the world showing the routes of, and rail connections, of the NYK lines. Above and below the map there are 16 photographic images illustrate the luxurious accommodation aboard the NYK liners – I’ll try and scan that in somehow. I’m sure you’ll agree – gorgeous cover…

North Korean Movies in Shanghai – 11th April – Centre Forward

Anyone who fancies sitting through a couple of hours of DPRK film can head over to O’Malley’s Bar in Shanghai this Thursday (11th) to see Centre Forward….courtesy of our good friends at Koryo Tours…

Where to Pick up a Lovely Little Hillman Minx in Shanghai?

I have a certain fondness for the Hillman Minx as it was my dad’s first car (admittedly a lot later than the one below – a 1960s Series V). The first Hillman Minx was produced in England in 1932 and here’s an advert for the car in 1934 Shanghai so one of the initial models. I always wonder why anyone bought a British car in Shanghai when American and French ones were available. I mean, come on – I bow to no one in my patriotism for the British car industry but honestly….a Cadillac or a Voisin would be better. Still a Hillman Minx was not too shabby and Fraser Motor’s out on the Great Western Road (Yannan Road West) had a bunch for you see and try – and don’t forget (as many people identifying pictures and making films of old Shanghai invariably do) the city’s International Settlement correctly drove on the left until 1945 (when the GI’s couldn’t handle it and switched it over – Shanghai’s roads have been chaos ever since!!) s0 British cars, being left had drive, had a certain advantage.

Goodrich’s The Peking Temple of the Eastern Peak – Peking in 1927

Anne Swain Goodrich’s The Peking Temple of the Eastern Peak is a charming description of Peking in 1927 (though this edition published later). Goodrich was a missionary in  Peking. She had been born in China, and she returned after receiving her education in the United States, an education that included graduate work at Columbia University’s Teachers College. Her husband, L. Carrington Goodrich,  eventually became chairman of the growing young Department of Chinese at Columbia University, which eventually became the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures.

Goodrich was a great collector of paper gods and created one of the finest collections in the West, most purchased from the famous Peking curio store Ren he zhi dian (Unity Among Men Paper Shop). This book is actually one of a three-volume collection she completed after leaving China – the paper gods collection is now part of the CV Starr East Asian Library at Columbia.

M Writer’s Residencies 2014-15 – Shanghai and Bangalore

Applications are open again for the M Writer’s Residencies….

The M Literary Residency

M Literary Residency Recipients for 2013-2014

The M Literary Residency is delighted to announce the recipients for the 2013-2014 Residency programs in China and India. Madeleine Thien has been selected for the China Residency, based in Shanghai, while Glenn Diaz  won the India Residency, based at Sangam House, outside of Bangalore.